MAJOR RULES CHANGES &
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
*TOURNAMENT PLAY*
SITUATION: Among parents, educators, and players there is
much disagreement about the value of tournaments
in recreational soccer leagues. Further, among
the proponents of tournaments, there is even
more disagreement about what type of tournaments
should be offered in recreational soccer. During
the past four years only Divisions I & II have held
tournaments, due to a U. S. Youth Soccer policy, but no
restrictions have been placed on under 14 and under 12
year old soccer so far.
RESULT: However, beginning with the fall 1996 season,
the Charleston Soccer League has eliminated tournaments
from all age divisions in the recreational soccer league.
Divisions I through IV will play a regular 8 week soccer
season; the division champion is determined by regular
season play using 3 points for a win, 1 point for a tie,
and 0 points for a loss. Goal differential and/or
head to head competition during the regular season
will serve as tie breakers for determing division champions.
REASON: The Charleston Soccer League Board of Directors
believes that confusion over the type of tournament to offer
and the seeming inequity of all types of tournaments we've
offeredduring the 10 years, has created adversarial
relationships among some coaches, parents,and players--
and even Mattoon and Charleston participants--during
the past four seasons. With so much negativity,
the major purposes of competitive and recreational
soccer--safety, learning and growth of skills, and sporting
individual and team behavior--are bypassed; thus, the result
is the elimination of League tournamentsfrom all age divisions.
*THE ADVANTAGE RULE*
PRESENT: The referee shall avoid calling a foul when the
offending team would gain a tactical advantage by such
a penalty. The officialshall note the "advantage" by
calling out "play on" and using theproper signal.
ADDED: When it becomes obvious that the advantage is not realized,
the referee shall blow the whistle and penalize the offending team with
the award of a free kick. The referee must have noted the "advantage"
by calling out "play on" and using the proper signal.
REASON: Often the "advantage" was never realized and
the referee's only recourse was issuing a caution or
an ejection of the offending player; thus, giving the
offending team an advantage and placing the offended
team at a tactical disadvantage. Obviously, this
was not the intent of the "advantage rule."
*REFEREES*
SITUATION: FIFA, U. S. Soccer, U. S. Youth Soccer, and the
NCAA
recognize only the diagonal (3 person) system of officiating,
but the National Federation of State High School Associations
this year has recognized the diagonal system, the dual system,
and the 3 referees with whistles system of officiating.
CHARLESTON SOCCER LEAGUE OFFICIATING SYSTEMS: For youth
soccer in Charleston, the Soccer League recognizes the
the diagonal (3 person) system of control as the
most effective and efficient way of officiating. However,
due to the limited availability of officials in our area
and the large number of teams playing recreational
soccer this fall,the Soccer League also accepts the dual
officiating system (2 referees with whistles) and
the single official system (1 referee with whistle)
as necessary in order to have certified and registered
soccer referees officiating in all League games.
CHARLESTON SOCCER LEAGUE EXCLUSION FROM OFFICIATING:
The Charleston Soccer League does not recognize and
will not accept the use of the 3 referees with whistles
system of officiating in League games. The IHSA, NCAA,IYSA,
FIFA, U. S. Soccer, and U. S. Youth Soccer also do not
recognize or employ the 3 referee system of officiating.
*OTHER OFFICIALS*
PRESENT: The officials who assist the referee in the
diagonal (3 person) system of officiating
are known as linesmen indicating out of bounds balls
and offside position.
ADDED: The officials who assist the referee in the
diagonal (3 person) system of game control do more than
just indicate out of bounds balls and offside violations.
They are now referred to as assistant referees.
REASON: The officials who assist the referee in the
diagonal (3 person) system of game control actually do
more than merely indicating out of bounds balls and
offside positions. Since they also indicate fouls, oversee
the team areas, coordinate substitutions, and examine the
field and equipment prior to kickoff, there is a need for
their title to accurately reflect their duties; thus
they are now called assistant referees.
*FOULS & MISCONDUCT*
ADDED: Taunting and fighting (including attempting to
fight)
are cause for immediate ejection from the game with the referee issuing
a red card regardless of the seriousness of the
offense or offenses.
REASON: While this type of misconduct has not been a problem
in past years during League games, nationwide and throughout
Illinois in club, high school, and college soccer this
continues to be a serious problem for game control. Thus,
the Charleston Soccer League is adopting the same stance
within its League games for the sake of maintaining
consistency in the various U. S. soccer rules.
*PENALTY KICKS*
PRESENT: There is no provision to prevent offside during
a penalty kick.
ADDED: All players shall be behind the 18 yard line during
penalty kicks.
REASON: The task of officiating is much simpler with the
Referee focusing on keeper & kikcer violations and
an Assistant Referee functioning as a goal judge. The
kicker and goalkeeper do not have to be concerned with
players positioning themselves too close to the goal,
and this should eliminate much of the game delay and
other misconduct frequently associated withl offside
players during penalty kicks.
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with any questions you have about the 1996 Rules of the Game.
You'll receive a prompt response at your own e-mail address.
Copyright 1996 by Frank E. Parcells